Reflection - AASL Standard 4.2 : Managing program resources: Human, financial, physical
Throughout our course work our instructors have stressed to us the importance of learning all aspects of the role of media specialists in school libraries. By listening to their advice and by reading books like Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, it is important that we remember that a media specialist must be both a learner and a teacher. We must continue to develop and grow by subscribing to professional journals, participate in ongoing discussions, attend conferences and workshops such as MASL and ISTE, and strive to find best practices for teaching information literacy based on quality research. In addition, we must also be on the front line when it comes to providing professional development opportunities for all stakeholders within a learning community, especially in regards to the access of information and technology advancements in education.
As a program administrator we must also be diligent when it comes to managing program resources. In our school district we have been fortunate when it comes to funding for print and non print resources. In the past few years our budget has averaged between $16 and $18 per student, which is quite generous compared to what we heard other schools have been given by their school districts. Due to this support, we have been able to increase the number of resources in our collection. However before placing a book order, I analyze our collection using Athena and Follett’s Title Wave System. I also check with teachers and students to see what our needs are to ensure that I am purchasing books, reference materials and magazines that will be used. In the past I have also alternated in the purchase of fiction verses non fiction books to add to our collection. In 2009, I focused on beefing up our fiction collection and this past year it was non fiction. The Permabound book order that is attached shows that a majority of our budget last school year went into our non fiction collection. By updating this portion of our collection we were able to provide of resources that supported our science curriculum.
In regards to the purchase of other media supplies and technology equipment, I usually hold book fairs, and have written grants like the MICCA Technology Grant and Picturing America Grant. By pursuing other forms of income as the ones mentioned above our media center has been able to purchase digital cameras, flip cameras, portable CD players and artwork. As we learned in ISTC 601 when we completed our group budget proposal, it is important that purchases made for a school media center should be done by analyzing data to determine need and that purchases align with the goals and objectives that support the mission of the school media program. Even though I am not required to submit a budget for our school media center, we do usually put in budget requests at the end of each school year for the following school year. I have used what I learned in ISTC 601 to justify budget requests that I make at the end of the year or purchases that I feel are necessary throughout the school year. For example this past school year we did purchase 5 new digital cameras for student use since our old cameras were getting worn out and students could no longer download images through the cables. So when I filled out a check request to purchase cameras that were going on clearance at Wal-Mart, I imformed my principal that this equipment purchase was needed so that students could continue to synthesize content while creating digital videos or stories that they had written.
In addition to managing financial resources within a media program it is also important to manage physical and human resources as well. In ISTC 601 we also created a proposal for a school media renovation project. Our proposal included various areas in the new GES media center such as a reading, listening, computer, instructional and research. A diagram of these new spaces is attached to this standard. Some of these new areas were based on the fact than an addition would be added to the existing school building. Also included in the proposal was a production studio with new and up to date equipment. When we completed this project we were told that money was not a factor. However, today in education budget constraints are a factor. So even though we cannot purchase all the equipment we listed in our proposal, this equipment list has served as a short term and long term list of goals that I can strive for in regards to our creating our production studio. Last year, I also obtained a proposal as to what it would cost to rewire our school, so that we could do the announcements live on a daily basis. The approximate cost was around $8000.00. Since this space is important for the growth of our students as well as providing an authentic learning experience that will connect with the communication standards that are now a part of new core curriculum, I have included some of these short term items for this production studio in our proposed budget for next year.
Besides financial and physical resources, a program administrator must also manage human resources such as volunteers. This past year I was blessed to have a full time volunteer for the second half of the school year. She assisted me immensely in organizing several aspects of our media center. Many of the responsibilities that I delegated to her are found in the daily journal entries that we completed during Practicum ISTC 789. In addition to directing adult volunteers, I also recruit student volunteers for special tasks or to assist with the running of our book fairs. This is usually done by putting out a flyer and having the students fill out an attached application. Almost all the students who return their applications are given an assignment on our book fair schedule.
Overall the job of a program administrator involves a great deal of planning and diligence to ensure that on a day to day basis a school media program runs smoothly. By being proactive and setting short term as well as long term goals a media specialist can ensure that their program is effective and meets the needs of all learners within their learning community.
Throughout our course work our instructors have stressed to us the importance of learning all aspects of the role of media specialists in school libraries. By listening to their advice and by reading books like Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, it is important that we remember that a media specialist must be both a learner and a teacher. We must continue to develop and grow by subscribing to professional journals, participate in ongoing discussions, attend conferences and workshops such as MASL and ISTE, and strive to find best practices for teaching information literacy based on quality research. In addition, we must also be on the front line when it comes to providing professional development opportunities for all stakeholders within a learning community, especially in regards to the access of information and technology advancements in education.
As a program administrator we must also be diligent when it comes to managing program resources. In our school district we have been fortunate when it comes to funding for print and non print resources. In the past few years our budget has averaged between $16 and $18 per student, which is quite generous compared to what we heard other schools have been given by their school districts. Due to this support, we have been able to increase the number of resources in our collection. However before placing a book order, I analyze our collection using Athena and Follett’s Title Wave System. I also check with teachers and students to see what our needs are to ensure that I am purchasing books, reference materials and magazines that will be used. In the past I have also alternated in the purchase of fiction verses non fiction books to add to our collection. In 2009, I focused on beefing up our fiction collection and this past year it was non fiction. The Permabound book order that is attached shows that a majority of our budget last school year went into our non fiction collection. By updating this portion of our collection we were able to provide of resources that supported our science curriculum.
In regards to the purchase of other media supplies and technology equipment, I usually hold book fairs, and have written grants like the MICCA Technology Grant and Picturing America Grant. By pursuing other forms of income as the ones mentioned above our media center has been able to purchase digital cameras, flip cameras, portable CD players and artwork. As we learned in ISTC 601 when we completed our group budget proposal, it is important that purchases made for a school media center should be done by analyzing data to determine need and that purchases align with the goals and objectives that support the mission of the school media program. Even though I am not required to submit a budget for our school media center, we do usually put in budget requests at the end of each school year for the following school year. I have used what I learned in ISTC 601 to justify budget requests that I make at the end of the year or purchases that I feel are necessary throughout the school year. For example this past school year we did purchase 5 new digital cameras for student use since our old cameras were getting worn out and students could no longer download images through the cables. So when I filled out a check request to purchase cameras that were going on clearance at Wal-Mart, I imformed my principal that this equipment purchase was needed so that students could continue to synthesize content while creating digital videos or stories that they had written.
In addition to managing financial resources within a media program it is also important to manage physical and human resources as well. In ISTC 601 we also created a proposal for a school media renovation project. Our proposal included various areas in the new GES media center such as a reading, listening, computer, instructional and research. A diagram of these new spaces is attached to this standard. Some of these new areas were based on the fact than an addition would be added to the existing school building. Also included in the proposal was a production studio with new and up to date equipment. When we completed this project we were told that money was not a factor. However, today in education budget constraints are a factor. So even though we cannot purchase all the equipment we listed in our proposal, this equipment list has served as a short term and long term list of goals that I can strive for in regards to our creating our production studio. Last year, I also obtained a proposal as to what it would cost to rewire our school, so that we could do the announcements live on a daily basis. The approximate cost was around $8000.00. Since this space is important for the growth of our students as well as providing an authentic learning experience that will connect with the communication standards that are now a part of new core curriculum, I have included some of these short term items for this production studio in our proposed budget for next year.
Besides financial and physical resources, a program administrator must also manage human resources such as volunteers. This past year I was blessed to have a full time volunteer for the second half of the school year. She assisted me immensely in organizing several aspects of our media center. Many of the responsibilities that I delegated to her are found in the daily journal entries that we completed during Practicum ISTC 789. In addition to directing adult volunteers, I also recruit student volunteers for special tasks or to assist with the running of our book fairs. This is usually done by putting out a flyer and having the students fill out an attached application. Almost all the students who return their applications are given an assignment on our book fair schedule.
Overall the job of a program administrator involves a great deal of planning and diligence to ensure that on a day to day basis a school media program runs smoothly. By being proactive and setting short term as well as long term goals a media specialist can ensure that their program is effective and meets the needs of all learners within their learning community.